Maralis Mercado Emerson, clinical research coordinator, was appointed to the Mayor's Hispanic/Latino Committee. The Committee has been active in serving as a liaison between Hispanic/Latino community groups and the City of Durham government since 2002. In 2015, City Council voted unanimously to recognize the Mayor's Hispanic/Latino Committee as an official committee of the City of Durham.

The community advises and informs the Mayor and City Council of concerns and issues that have a specific impact on Hispanic/Latino communities in Durham.